Written Answers Tuesday 19 July 2005

Scottish Executive

Debt

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average (a) unsecured debt and (b) annual income per person was in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Chisholm: (a) The Executive does not currently collect information on the debt of individuals. A recent report from the Department for Trade and Industry contains some information on debt for Great Britain, however we do not have this information at Scotland level. The report can be accessed via the following link: http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/pdf1/debtdtionmori.pdf .

  It is planned that the proposed Office for National Statistics survey on wealth and assets will collect information on household debt. The survey is in its early development stages. If it goes ahead, some data for Scotland should be available from this source.

  (b)The following table presents estimates of the median weekly total individual income for Scotland, based on a three year rolling average, from 1996-97 to 2003-04.

  Table: Median Total Individual Income1, Scotland, Averages for three rolling years, 1996-97 to 1998-99 to 2001-02 to 2003-04 (£ Per Week, 2003-04 Prices)

  

Year
All Adults


1996-97 to 1998-99
177


1997-98 to 1999-2000
181


1998-99 to 2000-01
184


1999-2000 to 2001-02
191


2000-01 to 2002-03
199


2001-02 to 2003-04
206



  Source: Family Resource Survey- Individual Incomes Analysis.

  Note: 1. Excludes any income which is not accrued directly to the individual in their own right, but also excludes student loans, social fund loans and benefits in kind.

  Total income includes all elements of income that are accrued to the individual in their own right. This includes income from earnings, self-employment, occupational pensions, investments, social security benefits and tax credits. Elements of income that are generally accrued by a household rather than an individual are excluded, e.g. housing benefit and council tax benefit, and income from letting/sub-letting.

Employment

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult the relevant trade unions over the proposed closure of the Arjo Wiggins paper mill at Corpach.

Nicol Stephen: Discussions with the trade unions will form part of the response to any closure at the Arjo Wiggins paper mill at Corpach. These discussions will be part of the Executive’s PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) Framework which is aimed at ensuring that public sector organisations, including Lochaber Enterprise, Jobcentre Plus and Highland Council, provide coordinated support to help those who may be affected into new employment or training.

European Union

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what obligation there is on the Parliament to implement a framework decision of the Council of Ministers of the European Union and what action may be taken against the Parliament or the Executive in the event of failure to implement a framework decision.

Cathy Jamieson: Framework Decisions fall within the Third Pillar of the European Union. They are binding on member states by virtue of Article 34(2)(b) of the EU Treaty. The UK is therefore under an international obligation to implement Framework Decisions. However, unlike First Pillar measures under the EC Treaty there is no provision for infraction proceedings in respect of Third Pillar measures and so the UK cannot be taken before the European Court of Justice for failing to implement a Framework Decision.

  Responsibility for implementing Framework Decisions in areas of devolved competence rests with Scottish ministers.

Flood Prevention

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what flood prevention schemes it is considering for operation in the Lothians region and when it expects each scheme to begin.

Rhona Brankin: At present, the Executive is considering only Edinburgh City Council’s proposed Water of Leith flood prevention scheme, in particular the report of the public local inquiry into the scheme. A start date for the scheme is dependent on when the statutory confirmation process is completed.

Flood Prevention

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of support it provides, and plans to provide, for flood prevention schemes in the Lothians region.

Rhona Brankin: All flood prevention schemes confirmed by the Scottish ministers will benefit from the increased grant rate of 80% of eligible costs, announced by the Executive in September 2004. This, coupled with the increase in the funds available to local authorities for flood prevention schemes – to a total of £89 million over the next three years - demonstrates the Executive’s commitment to reducing flood risk to vulnerable communities.

Forestry Commission

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish arrangements for the creation of forest crofts.

Rhona Brankin: Forestry Commission Scotland has set up the Forest Crofts Steering Group, comprising Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, the Crofters Commission, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Crofting Foundation and self-employed crofter and writer Bill Ritchie from Assynt. The group is examining whether, and how, national forest estate land might be used to create new crofts under the crofting legislation.

  The group last met on 20 June 2005 and a progress report is expected at the end of July. I have asked for a final report and recommendations before the end of the year and ministers will make an announcement when we have concluded our deliberations on the report.

Forestry Commission

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the launch of the National Forest Land Scheme, whether Forestry Commission Scotland has identified how much land is in its estate, in what size of parcels and in what locations that may be of interest for community buy-outs.

Rhona Brankin: The national forest estate, owned by Scottish ministers and managed by Forestry Commission Scotland, extends to 656,200 hectares (as recorded in Forest Facts & Figures, 2004 , published on 30 September 2004). The estate includes 601,016 hectares of forest land (which includes 135,810 hectares of open land within the forest) and 55,202 hectares of non-forest land.

  The size of the parcels that comprise the estate varies enormously, and we do not hold records of locations that may be of interest for community buy-outs. Communities can apply to acquire parts of the national forest estate provided they satisfy the criteria set out in the new National Forest Land Scheme.

  In addition, under a predecessor scheme of the National Forest Land Scheme (the Sponsorship Scheme for the Purchase of Land Managed By Forestry Commission Scotland) we are dealing with community groups at Minard and Tyndrum regarding the possibility of their purchasing small, local areas, surplus to the national forest estate.

  A map, showing the location of the entire national forest estate, is available at:  http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcs_managed_woodlands.pdf/$FILE/fcs_managed_woodlands.pdf.

Forestry Commission

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the launch of the National Forest Land Scheme, how much land was (a) conveyed and (b) leased to local community groups from Forestry Commission Scotland’s estate from 1997 to May 2005, broken down by locality.

Rhona Brankin: The following tables provide details of how much of Forestry Commission Scotland’s estate has been (a) conveyed and (b) leased to local community groups broken down by locality. Also included is a table showing areas where Forestry Commission Scotland works closely with local communities through Community Agreements.

  Land Conveyed by Forestry Commission Scotland from 1997 to May 2005

  

Property Name
Total Area (Hectares)
Local Authority Area


Lendrick Wood
47.70
Stirling


Glenhinnisdal and Glenuachdarach
204.00
Highland


Corrimony Woodlands and hill
1,553.30
Highland


Strathaird Plantation
167.10
Highland


Abriachan Woods – Main block
534.00
Highland


Glen Beag Plantation
166.00
Highland


Aline Wood
629.00
Highland


School Wood
15.50
Highland


Milton Wood
28.00
Highland


Toberchurn
49.00
Highland


Tyndrum Plantation
1.00
Argyll and Bute



  Buildings and Other Land Conveyed by Forestry Commission Scotland from 1997 to May 2005

  

Property Name
Total Area (Hectares)
Local Authority Area


Parkland at Benmore 
20.30
Argyll and Bute


Plot 1 Deer Park 
1.48
Argyll and Bute


Land at Lochaline War Memorial 
1.70
Argyll and Bute


Visitor Centre Carradale 
0.23
Argyll and Bute


Land at Braeval 
0.41
Stirling


Land at Ferrycroft, Lairg 
3.39
Highland


Land at Jenkins Park 
0.04
Highland


Plots A and B at Ratagan 
0.59
Highland


Land at Soillerie 
10.40
Highland


Shower block building, Glenmore 
0.00
Highland



  Land leased by Forestry Commission Scotland to community groups from 1997 to May 2005

  

Name of Lease
Total Area (Hectares)
Local Authority Area


Site at Rosehall
0.022
Highland


Site at Borgie
0.01
Highland


Land at Tyndrum
83.00
Stirling



  Details of Community Agreements in Scotland

  

Property Name
Total Area (Hectares)
Local Authority Area


Cree Valley
234.00
Dumfries and Galloway


Cairnhead
1,347.00
Dumfries and Galloway


Gamescleugh
50.4
Scottish Borders


Eshiels, Janets Brae, Caddonbank, Plora Wood, Glenkinnon and Lindinny
121.00
Scottish Borders


Minard
170.00
Argyll and Bute


Woodland at Tyndrum
83.00
Argyll and Bute


Balfour Wood
241.00
Aberdeenshire


Slewdrum Wood
150.00
Aberdeenshire


Strathmashie
1,401.00
Highland


Strathglass
14,768.00
Highland


South Strome
1,076.00
Highland


Achnababan
260.00
Highland

Forestry Commission

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the extent of Forestry Commission Scotland’s estate is, broken down by local authority area.

Rhona Brankin: The following table provides details of Forestry Commission Scotland’s estate broken down by local authority area.

  A map providing a breakdown of woodlands managed by Forestry Commission Scotland, by local authority area, is available on the Commission’s website at: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fe_bdys_within_la.pdf/$FILE/fe_bdys_within_la.pdf

  Forestry Commission Scotland Estate Broken Down into Local Authority Area

  

Council Estate
Hectares


Aberdeenshire
33,643.79


Angus
5,104.51


Argyll and Bute
116,151.94


City of Aberdeen
842.05


City of Edinburgh
30.65


City of Glasgow
0


Clackmannanshire
129.84


Dumfries and Galloway
97,925.5


East Ayrshire
16,210.23


East Dumbartonshire
441.52


East Lothian
0


East Renfrewshire
967.3


Falkirk
520.38


Fife
4,365.47


Highland
224,658.56


Inverclyde
0


Midlothian
26.79


Moray
24,679.52


North Ayrshire
11,065.11


North Lanarkshire
2,628.15


Perth and Kinross
30,304.74


Renfrewshire
0


Scottish Borders
25,330.39


South Ayrshire
25,421.81


South Lanarkshire
4,374.98


Stirling
38,681.61


West Dumbartonshire
1,386.26


West Lothian
1,546.82


Western Isles
0


Total
666,437.92

Forestry Commission

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made by Forestry Commission Scotland of the (a) area and (b) locations of land on its estate that would be suitable for the creation of forest crofts.

Rhona Brankin: We are not aware of any criteria for classifying land as a forest or woodland croft; therefore Forestry Commission Scotland does not hold records for such a classification. Forestry Commission Scotland has therefore made no estimate of the area or locations of land on the national forest estate that would be suitable for the creation of forest crofts.

  However, the Forest Crofts Steering Group, comprising Forestry Commission Scotland, the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, the Crofters Commission, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Crofting Foundation and self-employed crofter and writer Bill Ritchie from Assynt, is examining whether, and how, national forest estate land might be used to create new crofts under the crofting legislation.

Prison Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question SW2-17245 by Cathy Jamieson on 22 June 2005, whether there are any weeks in the year where prisoners are not required to work and whether any particular arrangements apply to long-term prisoners.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  
No. It is customary for a modified regime to apply at Christmas and New Year. Any such provisions apply to both long-term and short-term prisoners. Prisoners in open prisons who are eligible for home leave are able to apply one additional period of leave during summer and at Christmas.

Prison Service

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation it has made of the Cranstoun project.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  
The Addiction Services Contract delivered by Cranstoun Drug Services is monitored within the SPS by an established contract compliance monitoring group. The Scottish Executive Effective Intervention Unit have also evaluated the Transitional Care element of this contract. The results are published on their website.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) maximum and (b) median number of remand prisoners was in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by prison.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information is given in the following table :

  

2004
(a)
(b)


Aberdeen
98
69


Barlinnie
529
445


Cornton Vale
115
79


Dumfries
45
29


Edinburgh
210
175


Greenock
123
93


Inverness
61
44


Kilmarnock
94
77


Low Moss
1
0


Perth
178
150


Polmont
131
103


Shotts
1
0

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17267 by Cathy Jamieson on 17 June 2005, in what way the answer indicates whether the Executive is satisfied with the answer to question S2W-16642.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  
This was not required as Schedule D provided details of training which the SPS were required to approve in terms of the contract in relation to new Prison Custody Officers.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in updating its plans for the prison estate.

Cathy Jamieson: I asked the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to update its Prisons Estates Strategy in the light of the Napier judgement and other developments since the Estates Review was completed in 2002. As part of that work, the SPS will be discussing options for prison services in the north east of Scotland with a range of local and national interests over the coming weeks. The SPS will then report to me. I will thereafter decide on the way forward.

Prisoner Escorts

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatalities there were of prisoners under escort between (a) 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2003, (b) 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004 and (c) 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2005; how many of these were the subject of a fatal accident inquiry (FAI); when the FAI reports were published, and which sheriffdom had responsibility for carrying out the FAIs.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  
The information requested is not available prior to April 2004. So far, as the period since then is concerned, the information in relation to escorts for which Reliance Custodial Services have been involved is three deaths which will be subject to an FAI. One FAI has already been held in the Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin. Two further FAIs have still to be held, one in the Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin and one in the Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highlands and Islands.

Water Services

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what amount Scottish Water billed for non-domestic water and waste water services in (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05 and how much of this money has not yet been collected.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what amount was billed by Scottish Water and its predecessor organisations for non-domestic water and waste water services prior to 2003-04 but has not yet been collected.

Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. Therefore I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to write to you with the information that you have requested.